In 2015-16 we issued an invitation to our community: Discover Wake Tech. It was more than pride in the college. We wanted to encourage everyone to take a closer look, to see what they might not have noticed before – faculty breaking ground in their fields, research-driven innovations, new options within programs of study, creative pathways to career satisfaction, and almost infinite possibilities for realizing dreams. We made some discoveries, or re-discoveries, as well, about our strengths and our priorities. Our focus has continued to be on expanding opportunities for students: We added programs, offered scholarships, and formed innovative partnerships to give students an edge in the job market. We enhanced job training and support services for veterans. We held our first apprenticeship summit and forged new articulation agreements to improve transfer options. We also started a new translation line to better serve our international students, who represent 70+ nationalities.
Last year was record-breaking in more ways than one. Our enrollment topped 70,000 students for the first time, and we became the largest provider of online education among North Carolina’s 58 community colleges. We received the largest grant in our history: nearly $4 million to train workers for the growing field of cybersecurity. We also celebrated our reaccreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, with no recommendations for improvement – an affirmation of our efforts and commitment.
We hope our community will continue to discover the resources awaiting them at Wake Tech. We’ll continue the discovery process too – what our students need, what the workplace demands, what’s changing, what’s ahead. We are honored to continue helping this community prepare for all that the future holds.
SPECIAL AWARDS
Deb Hadley
2016 Applied Benchmarking Project of the Year
Pat Richardson
President’s Award for Lifetime Achievement
COMMUNITY PARTNER AWARDS
Corporate Benefactor of the Year: Duke Energy
Duke Energy has invested more than $500,000 in student scholarships and state-of-the-art equipment and technology for Wake Tech; its employees serve as Wake Tech advisors; and the company offers employment opportunities to Wake Tech students.
Individual Spirit of Giving Award: Julian and Liz Clay Bradley
The Bradleys established the Second Chance Scholarship in 2004, which helps non-traditional students (over 34 years of age) complete their education.
Distinguished Alumni Award: Janet Grog
During a successful career at GlaxoSmithKline, Janet has arranged for much-needed equipment donations to Wake Tech, provided job opportunities for Wake Tech grads, and served as an advisor for the Biopharmaceutical Technology program and the Vernon Malone College and Career Academy.
Volunteer of the Year: Charles Durham
Over eight years, Charles has volunteered more than 2500 hours to teach reading and writing skills and help Wake Tech students prepare to earn their GED.
EXCELLENCE AWARDS
The Wake Tech Foundation presents Annual Excellence Awards at a special banquet each year.
STUDENTS
2016 President’s Award for Excellence
Enzo Codella
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences
Donna Dixon
Health Sciences 2016 Student of Academic Excellence
Eddie Scott
Business and Public Service Technologies
Brooke Grayson
Applied Engineering and Technologies
Jacquelyn Skinner
Computer Technologies
Brian Woodworth
Mathematics, Sciences, and Engineering
FACULTY
Excellence in Teaching Awards
Christopher Gitthens
Welding Technology
Lori Dees
Pre-Curriculum *2016 Instructor of the Year
Cynthia Foster
Simulation and Game Development
Lorraine Powers
Business Administration
Dianne Cardamone
Workforce Allied Health
Rebecca Berry
Humanities
Holly Markovich
Mathematics
Tamitha Inks
Radiography
STAFF
Excellence in Service Awards
Alicia Hardy
Health Sciences
Michael Penry
Campus Police and Security Services *Staff Member of the Year
Beverly House
e-Learning Support
Salanna Holmes
Registration and Records
Christy Shields
Academic Advising and Student Success
Sherry Stubbs
Education Services and Technology
Lynn Kavcsak
Career and Employment Resources
Tammy Stephenson-Hamid
Facility Services
* Lori Dees and Michael Penry will represent Wake Tech at the statewide NCCCS Excellence Competition.
Students Presidents Award for Excellence
Faculty Excellence in Teaching Awards
Staff Excellence in Service Awards.
Applied Benchmarking Project of the Year, Deb Hadley.
President's Award for Lifetime Achievement, Pat Richardson.
Student of Academic Excellence, Donna Dixon.
Faculty Member of the Year, Lori Dees.
Staff Member of the Year, Michael Penry.
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Video Game Talent
Graduating students in Simulation and Game Development created original video games for their annual Student Showcase on Main Campus. Representatives from Triangle-area game companies were there to see what students had created – and discuss career opportunities in the industry. Wake Tech is a major sponsor of the annual East Coast Game Conference, which draws game developers and enthusiasts from around the world.
New Criminal Justice Options
Wake Tech began offering two new criminal justice certificates in Homeland Security and Intelligence Analysis that can be completed in two semesters. Both can lead to employment as a TSA screener, risk management specialist, transportation security officer, or police analyst – or to additional studies applicable toward an associate’s degree.
Wake Tech Re-Accredited
In July 2015 Wake Tech was reaccredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The extensive review takes place every 10 years. Wake Tech received high marks in both the Compliance Certification Report, which documents compliance in standards and regulations, and in the Quality Enhancement Plan, or QEP. The SACSCOC review committee reported “no recommendations” for improvement!
“This is extremely rare.”
Dr. Robin W. Hoffman
Vice President, SACSCOC (retired)
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Record Enrollment
The 2015-16 academic year began with more than 22,400 students flooding Wake Tech’s five campuses.
3D Printing
3D printing enthusiasts, industry representatives, and interested consumers converged on Wake Tech. 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is revolutionizing manufacturing, prosthetics, aerospace engineering, and more. Wake Tech offers coursework that includes 3D printing through its Applied and Engineering Technologies Division. The college received a major grant award of more than $825,000 from the National Science Foundation to enhance these programs.
Beating the Odds
Wake Tech’s Fostering Bright Futures program honored graduates at its annual banquet at the City Club in Raleigh. Fostering Bright Futures is a public-private partnership that began in 2009 to provide former foster youth with tutoring, mentoring, and financial support, to help them attend college and find employment or transfer to a university.
4th Open Online Course
Wake Tech launched its fourth Massive Open Online Course, or MOOC, called Mastering the Fundamentals of Reading and Writing. The MOOC format is self-paced and free of charge, inviting open access via the web to students anywhere in the world. Other Wake Tech MOOCs include Introductory Algebra Review, Chemistry, and Computer Basics.
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STEM Day
At its second annual STEM DAY, Wake Tech celebrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, with exhibits and demonstrations for students, faculty, and staff. Activities included a trebuchet demonstration and live “explosions” of Mentos candies and Diet Coke. STEM education at Wake Tech helps students build a foundation for exciting, rewarding careers in these fields. At Wake Tech, STEM education extends through the College Transfer, Health Sciences, Applied Engineering and Technologies, and Computer Technologies programs.
Innovative Geo-Science Education
The National Science Foundation awarded Wake Tech $47,160 for a four-year effort to transform geoscience education. Two associate professors, Adrianne Leinbach and Gretchen Miller, will work with other faculty from Wake Tech and from other institutions across the southeast to enhance teaching and career pathways in geoscience.
Wake Tech Commemorates 9/11
Wake Tech celebrated the heroes and honored the fallen of September 11 with a special ceremony at its Public Safety Education Campus; other campuses observed a moment of silence. Wake Tech’s Public Safety Training Academy is accredited by CALEA®, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, and trains first responders, firefighters, and law enforcement officers.
NC Treasurer Presents Award to Wake Tech
NC Treasurer Janet Cowell recognized Wake Tech for its commitment to worksite wellness with an award from the State Health Plan’s Wellness Champions Program. Wake Tech is the first to receive a Diamond-level prize from Wellness Champions. The college offers multiple workplace wellness opportunities, including free fitness classes, health fairs, walking clubs, healthy cooking expos, nutrition counseling, and wellness-based professional development.
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Apollo 17 Astronaut Visits Wake Tech
Dr. Harrison “Jack” Schmitt, former U.S. Senator and NASA astronaut, was part of the 1972 Apollo 17 moon mission, and he shared his experiences with students, faculty, and staff as part of Wake Tech’s STEM Speaker Series in October. The respected geologist, pilot, writer, and businessman also signed copies of his book, Return to the Moon: Exploration, Enterprise, and Energy in the Human Settlement of Space.
"STEM STAR" Selected for Prestigious NASA Program
Wake Tech aerospace engineering student Mitchell LaValley was named one of the elite NASA Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS). The program, funded in part by the Minority University Research and Education Program (MUREP), is committed to recruiting underrepresented and underserved students in STEM fields for a diverse workforce. LaValley is one of 160 U.S. community college students in the five-week scholars program, which will culminate in a four-day event at Marshall Space Flight Center.
Statewide Honor
Wake Tech Executive Vice President Mort Congleton received the Distinguished Service Award from the North Carolina Council of Resource Development (NC CORD). Congleton joined Wake Tech as Foundation Director in 2005; in 2012 he led Wake Tech’s first major gifts campaign, which far exceeded expectations. He is past president of the national Council for Resource Development and serves on the Foundation Board for the NC Community College System.
Entrepreneurial Partnership
In October, Wake Tech and HQ Raleigh, a downtown workspace for entrepreneurs, announced an exciting partnership made possible by funding from the Wake Tech/Wells Fargo Center for Entrepreneurship. The partnership will bring workforce training together with entrepreneurial programs and events, to encourage innovation and to support minority and underserved entrepreneurs. HQ Raleigh includes 130+ member companies.
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PHI THETA KAPPA
Honor Society
Sixty-seven Wake Tech students were inducted into the Beta Alpha Zeta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa in October. The international honor society for two-year colleges offers opportunities for scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship. Students must maintain a 3.7 grade point average to be eligible for membership. The induction ceremony was broadcast live via Periscope.
Saying Thanks for Scholarship Support
3D printing enthusiasts, industry representatives, and interested consumers converged on Wake Tech. 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, is revolutionizing manufacturing, prosthetics, aerospace engineering, and more. Wake Tech offers coursework that includes 3D printing through its Applied and Engineering Technologies Division. The college received a major grant award of more than $825,000 from the National Science Foundation to enhance these programs.
First in the World
U.S. Representative David Price visited Wake Tech in November to announce a $2.7 million award from the U.S. Department of Education’s First in the World grant program. The award is the third largest in Wake Tech’s history. Funds will be used to improve student engagement, performance, and outcomes in online courses in psychology, computer science, and business.
Wake Tech IDOL
Wake Tech student Rifine Pongo won the title of 2015 Wake Tech Idol and a $1,000 scholarship from the Wake Tech Foundation. Pongo, originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, hopes to pursue a career in dental hygiene. The annual singing competition, sponsored by the SGA, took place on the Northern Wake Campus and was broadcast live via Periscope.
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Training for Veterans
Wake Tech received a $100,000 grant from the Walmart Foundation for ACTS, the Accelerated Career Transformation Services program, which offers accelerated training and career support to veterans. Three tracks have been identified in which military training will count toward credentials: Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), EMT/Paramedic, and Apartment Maintenance Technician.
Fall 2015 Graduation
More than 700 students received degrees and diplomas in two graduation ceremonies on December 12th. Speakers for the events were Robert Schaaf, who graduated along with his son, and Latesha Sharpe, the 2015-16 Scott Scholar.
Nursing Graduates
Fifty-eight graduates of Wake Tech’s associate’s degree nursing program received their pins at the Perry Health Sciences Campus in December and became eligible to take the state licensure exam for Registered Nurses. Most will stay and work in the area.
Fall Culinary Competition
Wake Tech hosted the NC American Culinary Federation (ACF) Competition in early December, with more than 50 students from Johnson and Wales University and Central Piedmont Community College competing. Wake Tech student Kyle Starr won the gold for a sugar showpiece; five other entries earned silver medals and 27 earned bronze, using official ACF criteria. Industry professionals also competed.
Benefactors Receive National Philanthropy Award
Jim and Becky Perry received the Benefactor of the Year Award from the Council for Resource Development (CRD) in Washington, DC. They have generously supported Wake Tech for nearly 20 years. Last year, they presented the college with a gift of $2 million, the largest cash contribution in its history. Wake Tech’s Perry Health Sciences Campus is named in their honor. Jim Perry is a former chairman of the Wake Tech Board of Trustees.
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Apprenticeship
More than 100 NC manufacturers, economic development agencies, and community college leaders, and student-apprentices converged on the Beltline Education Center for the first Apprenticeship Summit, hosted by partners Wake Tech and the NC Triangle Apprenticeship Program (NCTAP). NC Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry and NC Commerce Secretary John Skvarla spoke, along with State Senator Chad Barefoot and German apprenticeship expert Dr. Johann Fortwengel. The summit included tours of Wake Tech’s Advanced Manufacturing Center, a 3,000-square-foot, one-stop shop for training in machining, automation, and circuit board technologies. NCTAP is the largest of eight partnerships statewide between local manufacturers and community colleges, designed to address an identified “skills gap.”
Bucking the Trend
A January 2016 analysis by Community College Week found that Wake Tech was the third fastest-growing large community college in the U.S., in spite of enrollment declines nationally. Wake Tech grew by 10.4% from fall 2013 to fall 2014 and was one of only four colleges with double-digit increases. www.ccweek.com.
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Teaching Excellence
Wake Tech granted professor status to more than 100 faculty members. The ranking system was established in 2014 to reward and retain the best teachers. The college also named 75 assistant professors, 27 associate professors, and one professor. Ranking is based on rigorous criteria that include innovative teaching strategies, leadership, and community service.
Trustee Honored
Wake Tech Trustee Doris Huebner received the prestigious Athena Award for community service. The award is given by the Smithfield-Selma Chamber Women’s Business Network to recognize professional women committed to supporting each other and their community.
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Generous Donor Responds to Student Request
The Wake County New Vehicle Dealers Association donated a Duramax diesel engine and Allison transmission package to Wake Tech that will improve training for students in the Automotive Systems Technology programs. The donation came about after one such student, Trey Hinnant, made a direct request for equipment to provide greater hands-on training opportunities.
Plus 50
The Plus 50 Spring Summit at Western Wake Campus in Cary featured workshops on career opportunities for older adults, social security, financial planning, and healthy aging. More than 200 visitors attended and learned about Workforce Continuing Education classes.
New Transfer Opportunities
Under a new agreement with UNC-Wilmington, students who earn an AA or AS degree with a 3.0 GPA are assured admission to UNC-W with junior status. The students must meet the statewide Comprehensive Articulation Agreement requirements and UNC-W’s foreign language requirements.
Wake Tech signed three ground-breaking agreements with William Peace University which will provide students with greater transfer options. The agreements will allow Wake Tech graduates in Criminal Justice, Business Analytics, and in Simulation and Game Development to transfer seamlessly to William Peace to complete a bachelor’s degree.
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Design Students Transform Building
Students in the AAS degree program in Interior Design redesigned a vacant school building for retail and residential use. They presented their plans at the City of Raleigh Museum in April.
Culinary Arts
The 2016 Culinary Arts Showcase welcomed students from Sandhills Community College and Johnson and Wales. Judges selected winners in cake, bread, cold platter, and showpiece categories. Wake Tech students won eight of the nine gold medals, including Best of Show, which went to Heather Therien. Thirty-six bronze and 23 silver medals were awarded.
National Scholarships Winners
Samuel Alley and Chantel “Ruby” Hawley completed AAS degrees in Heavy Equipment and Transport Technology and received $1,000 scholarships from the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, established by Mike Rowe of television show “Dirty Jobs” fame. Alley plans to work at a John Deere dealership in Virginia; Hawley will become an instructor at Wake Tech. Both will use scholarship funds to buy tools.
New Scholarship Opportunities
Holt Brothers Construction and S&ME Engineering established scholarships to allow graduates of the Vernon Malone College and Career Academy to earn a degree at Wake Tech. Both firms wanted to inspire students to work toward rewarding careers.
New Athletics Website
Wake Tech Athletics unveiled a new, more streamlined website that is mobile-friendly, easy to navigate, and able to show official NJCAA scores and stats quickly. The site was designed by Prestosports, which specializes in the latest technologies in sports-related web design.
PTK Honor Society
In April, 72 students were inducted into the Beta Alpha Zeta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. The ceremony featured Wake County Commissioner Sig Hutchinson. Students must maintain a 3.7 GPA to be eligible.
EVP Greene Awarded National Fellowship
Wake Tech Executive Vice President Dr. Gayle Greene will join the inaugural class of the Aspen Presidential Fellows, a group of 40 leaders from 17 states and 30 institutions who are focused on transforming community colleges. The year-long program, delivered in collaboration with Stanford University, is designed to prepare leaders for a community college presidency.
Language Translation Phone Line
Wake Tech launched a language translation phone line to serve to provide quick access to interpreters in more than 220 languages, to help communicate official business to the college community. Wake Tech is the only community college or university in North Carolina to have the system. Students from more than 70 countries are currently enrolled in Wake Tech curriculum programs.
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Bake Tech Videos Online
A new feature called “Bake Tech!” presents short videos for home cooks. The goal is to heighten awareness of Wake Tech’s Baking and Pastry Arts program while offering easy and fun recipes and meal ideas.
Audi Partnership
Wake Tech and Audi of America have joined forces to give graduates a competitive edge. The Audi Educational Partnership program will provide equipment and instructional materials for students in Automotive Systems Technology.
Spring 2016 Graduation
More than 1,600 graduates received degrees and diplomas in May, and more than 700 of those grads participated in commencement exercises at the Raleigh Convention Center. They ranged in age from 16 to 73, and included 42 students from the Wake Early College of Health and Sciences who received associate’s degrees from Wake Tech, before officially receiving their high school diplomas!
Grant Funding To Enhance Veterans Services
Two $5,000 grants from Accenture, a global professional services company, will support students completing the Cisco Cyber Security and Red Hat Certified System Administrator programs, through the Veterans Accelerated Career Transformation Services (ACTS) program.
A $5,000 award from the Aurora Foundation will provide special ID badges for veterans at Wake Tech (students and employees), and “Green Zone” training on veterans’ issues for faculty and staff
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) awarded Wake Tech $99,673 for America’s Wars: Individual Experience and Collective Memories, a project to collect Triangle veterans’ stories and incorporate veterans’ perspectives into courses in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. The program will include new curriculum material, a digitally-archived oral history, and guest lecturers.
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New Foundation Leader
Local business leader Matt Smith became Associate Executive Director and Major Gifts Officer for the Wake Tech Foundation, where he will manage over $12.5 million in assets and work to expand private support for the college. Prior to joining the Wake Tech Foundation, Smith spent a decade as a business developer in the commercial construction industry. He also spent 12 years working in alumni relations and fundraising at NC State University. Smith succeeds Mort Congleton, who stays on at Wake Tech as Executive Vice President.
Largest Grant
Wake Tech received $3.9 million, the largest grant in its 50+-year history, to train workers for jobs in cybersecurity, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and financial services. The college is one of 39 recipients nationwide selected for the U.S. Department of Labor’s “TechHire” program, an effort to train high-tech workers. Wake Tech and the Capital Area Workforce Development Board will partner on an initiative to prepare at least 450 people for well-paying jobs in high-growth sectors. The initiative, known as Project SECURE (Supporting and Enhancing CyberSecurity through Upwardly-mobile Retraining and Education), will provide training for computer-related occupations and help fill a critical need for workers with cybersecurity skills.
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INCOME
NC Dept. of Health/Human Services
US Department of Labor
National Science Foundation
NC Community College System
Wells Fargo
US Department of Education
US Department of Education
Walmart
Institute for Mexicans Abroad
NC Community College System
National Science Foundation
Charles Koch Foundation
Aurora Foundation
Charles Koch Foundation
National Endowment for the Humanities
Wake Education Partnership
Accenture
PNC Foundation
Triangle J Council of Governments
North Raleigh Rotary Club
Bank of America
US Department of Labor
Wells Fargo
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
EXPENSES
INCOME
EXPENSES
